Best Chicken Fried Steak around
DESCRIPTION: Spanky's is a classic diner. Open from way too early in the morning until about !:20 in the afternoon. They've got reasonable prices and are a good value on their food. It is also a classic diner in that most of the customers are regulars, who can just order their "usual". I have to appreciate a restaurant that has a sign reminding people that for courtesy and safety, please keep your children seated. They're two signature dishes are their croisscant french toast, stuffed with cream cheese and waltnuts, and their chicken fried steak. I think that they've got the best chicken fried steak around. I tend to eat pretty fair sized meals, but even though I don't get the eggs (I don't like eggs), and get the toast rather than biscuits and gravy, I still usually end up with about half the steak left over for another meal.
DATE: 2005-09-24
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chicken Fried steak, stuffed croisscant

Great Breakfasts
DESCRIPTION: Had the chicken fried steak and eggs...kept me full the until the evening. My girlfriend had the tortilla meal (added sausage) and could not finish it. Great service and prices.
DATE: 2006-01-16
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chicken Fried Steak - It is huge...

Great Food, Fun Atmosphere!
DESCRIPTION: During our Labor Day weekend camping trip we went out one night to Ciao Bella for dinner, we sat at the bar, enjoyed a couple of appetizers followed by an entree of Filet Mignon and Lobster tail (which we split). The hourly entertainment was great, sitting at the bar is a lot of fun, bartender was great and his hair was a fabulous shade of blue! It's a little loud but very funky, take your camera!
DATE: 2001-09-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Filet Mignon and lobster tail

Great Fun and Style.
DESCRIPTION: I had linguine with vegetables in a white wine sauce and my friend had the cheese ravioli with pomodoro sauce. We both had tiramisu for dessert. The food was great and the singing waiters and waitresses were a riot. We got to sit in a room full of black lights! Its a very fun place.
DATE: 2001-09-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : linguine with veggies and the cheese ravioli

Ha Ha.
DESCRIPTION: I've had the ravioli above and veal @ Ciao. Everything melts in your mouth, and just sitting there w/o appetizers before the meal with just vinegar / oil and chopped garlic to dip your bread in is wonderful. Worth the hassle of reservations every time. Highly reccommended for Burning Man goers with the staff being as "multi-talented" as they are!
DATE: 2002-10-12
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10

Looking for a good time?
DESCRIPTION: Sounds like a scribble on the bathroom walls, but it's true. I look forward to traveling 300+ miles to Ben Lomond, immersing myself in the whole Ciao Bella experience: optical stimulation, great food, outstanding entertainment, and owner Tad is such a wonderful guy.L
DATE: 2002-10-19
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Stuffed Rigatoni; zabaglioni for dessert

WOW
DESCRIPTION: I dropped in at 11pm on a Sunday and was served in the Bar. Even with out the official stage show (some of the locals were messing around and dancing - quite entertaining) I was nearly overwhelmed by the ambiance of the place. Usually one does not expect good food from a place so focused on ambiance, but the pasta we ordered is easly some of the best I have had. The meatballs ARE the best to be had anywhere.
DATE: 2002-12-09
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : anything

Brillant and fun!
DESCRIPTION: Who knew that on the bible belt outside of Santa Cruz could there be such a place as this, welcome to people of all kinds from white, black, gay, straight, lesbian, trans-gender, and where the food is the best of all. Ciao Bella is the place to go especially for a first date because just looking around gives anyone any choice of subjects to talk about. My boyfriend and I drive six hours just to eat at this restaurant. It's one of the best I have been too!
DATE: 2003-02-05
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : stuffed artichoke hearts

One of my favorite places to be in the world
DESCRIPTION: The food is wonderful, the staff is tons of fun and you can spend hours looking at the decor! This place always leaves me with a permasmile for the rest of the night! I recommend the whole world eat their once!
DATE: 2003-03-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : There are too many to list

can't wait til next time
DESCRIPTION: A group of us went for our b-days, and my face still hurts from smiling. We had a blast, everything was perfectly great.
DATE: 2003-04-04
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Great Place for Groups
DESCRIPTION: Have you ever been at a dinner party with a big group of people and no one can talk to everyone and not everyone knows each other well and you sit and wait bored for the food? Well that never happens at Ciao Bella! I'm from the east coast but I've been out there twice and eaten there once each time with a big group. It was so much entertainment and it brought people of all ages and styles together with the songs everyone knows, the dancing waitresses and the owner, and the beautiful acappella voices singing old hits! The food is a very tasty Italian and everyone, including vegetarians, finds something they'll want to eat. If you're anywhere NEAR Ciao Bella and you haven't been there, you need to go, It's an experience to have at least once!!
DATE: 2003-06-26
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : spinach ravioli, fried articokes